How to recover a lost computer password

Thursday

Feb 7, 2013 at 12:18 PM

Kim KomandoUSA TODAY

You've got tech questions, here are the answers. Kim Komando helps you make the most of your technology by answering your thorniest tech questions. So if you're wondering what to buy, how to plug it in, or how to fix it, Kim can help.

Should I delete Java?Question: I keep seeing more and more headlines about Java being open to viruses. Should I remove the program?Answer: It depends on how much you need it. Don't forget, some important programs such as the Office alternative LibreOffice won't run if you delete Java. If you've double-checked and can't find any program you use that needs Java, then it's OK to delete it. However, if you do use a program that requires Java, you need to update it and tweak a few settings to make it safer to use on your computer. If a website you visit often uses Java, I would download a second browser and use it only for that site. That should minimize your risk of infection.

Print from a smartphone or tabletQuestion: I do most of my work on a tablet. The only problem is printing out the finished product. Can I do this without buying new gear?Answer: It depends on what gear you already have. Some printers have built-in support for Apple's AirPrint and/or Google's Cloud Print. Check the lists from Apple and Google to see if your printer is one of them. You might be able to transfer documents through USB or SD (with an adapter for your gadget's microSD card), too. If not, there are a few apps that work, like Print n Share and Cloud Print. Just make sure you read the fine print that comes along with them. There's usually a good deal of setup involved to get them working.

Clean up your inboxQuestion: I have thousands of messages just hanging around my inbox. I don't even read half of the ones I receive. What can I do to clean them up?Answer: One of the easiest ways to do this is to unsubscribe from email newsletters and subscriptions you don't want. You can do this manually with your email provider's search tool. Just search for the word “Unsubscribe.” If you use Gmail or Yahoo mail, a service like unroll.me can do the work for you. That will prevent you from receiving more email you don't read. To delete the email you already have, sort by sender to find people who send you lots of email. That way, you can do bulk deletes instead of sending emails to the trash one by one.

Tablet with PhotoshopQuestion: Would a tablet be useful to help me draw things online? I'm looking for a tablet with Photoshop or something similar.Answer: Well, there is the free app Photoshop Express, but I don't think that's what you really want. It's more for photo editing. A better app for your drawing needs is going to be Sketchbook Pro. That app works especially well with styluses, so make sure you buy one for your tablet. If you don't already have a tablet, you can find some that come with styluses, like Galaxy Note 10.1.

Recover a lost passwordQuestion: I lost the password to my email account and I don't remember which secondary email I set up for the “forgot my password” link. Is there any way I can get it back?Answer: Nirsoft has a bunch of different tools that can help you recover passwords. Not only do they find passwords buried in your network settings, but in your browser, too. It's usually not the best idea to save a password in your browser, but it does help you get it back if you forget. In Firefox, go to Firefox>>Options>>Security and click Saved Passwords. For Chrome, type “chrome://settings/passwords” into your address bar. Safari users can go to Safari>>Preferences and select “Passwords.” Click the “Show Passwords” check box to reveal them. Internet Explorer doesn't have an easy settings fix to do this.

Kim Komando hosts the nation's largest talk radio show about consumer electronics, computers and the Internet. To get the podcast, watch the show or find the station nearest you, visit www.komando.com. Email her at techcomments@usatoday.com.

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